Foldable tables



Jan. 22, 1963 E. .1008 3,074,770

FOLDABLE TABLES Filed March 20, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 22, 1963 E.JOOS FOLDABLE TABLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1961 FIG 5 UnitedStates Patent 3,974,770 FQLDAELE TABLES Eric loos, Torggatan 37,Enkoping, Sweden Filed Mar. 2d, 1961, Ser. No. 96,753 Ciairns priority,application Sweden Mar. 29, 1960 '7 Qlaims. (Cl. Bill-90) This inventionrelates to foldable tables which are particularly suitable for use ascamping tables.

In a foldable table according to this invention the table top is formedof two sections; each section has a joint flange extendingperpendicularly away from the support surface of the table; a hingleinterconnects the joint flanges so that the sections are foldablebetween an erected position in which they are in substantially the sameplane and a folded position in which they are substantially parallel andform with the flanges a boxiike space; the table legs are stowable inthe box-like space; a bar pivotally connected to the side of one sectionabout two mutually perpendicular axes is swingable from a stowedposition in one section over and beyond the ends of the joint flanges sothat it contacts the side of the other section; and a locking device isoperative to secure the free end of the bar to the side of the othersection to hold the table top erected.

Preferably each section has a side flange which also extendsperpendicularly away from the support surface of the table, and there isa gap between the ends of the joint flanges and the side flanges; thebar is then swingable into the gap from its stowed position.

The side flanges may be spaced slightly inwardly from the edge or" thetable. Preferably however they are at the edge of the table, and so formperipheral flanges.

The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and how itmay be performed is hereinafter particularly described with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an inverted plan of a partially erected camping tableaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view in the direction of the arrows2-42 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view in the direction of the arrows3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of part of an erected table;and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View on an enlarged scale of anotherpart of an erected table.

The rectangular camping table shown in FIGURE 1 has two rectangularsheet metal sections 1 and 2 respectively, whose upper sides form thesupport surface of the table. A metal channel member 3 is fixed to theunderside of and at periphery of the three outer sides I of eachsection, and the edge parts 4- of the three outer sides are bent over tooverlie the webs 5 of the channel members. The channel members thus forman L-shaped eripheral flange; one of the arms of the flange extendsperpendicularly to and away from the support surface of the table, whilethe second arm of the flange extends inwardly and is parallel with butspaced from the table top. The edge part of the fourth and inner side ofeach section is also bent over so as to form a joint flange 6, whichalso extends perpendicularly to and away from the table top and whoseends are spaced from the peripheral flanges by gaps 7. A hinge 8, whichcomprises two plane metal strips s or side members pivotally connected"ice along one edge (FIG. 3), interconnects the joint flanges 6, thestrips being fixed to the surfaces of the joint flanges 6.

The sections 1 and 2 are thus foldable between an erected position inwhich the sections 1 and 2 are in substantially the same plane and afolded position in which they are substantially parallel and form withthe peripheral and joint flanges a box-like space.

The sections it and 2 are held in their erected position by a pair ofbars it connected respectively to the sections 1 and 2 on opposite sidesof the table. Each bar 10 is pivot-ally connected to a section about twomutually perpendicular axes; each pivotal connection comprises a shortlink 11 pivotally connected to the arms of the channel member 3 so thatits axis is perpendicular to the table top, and the bar 1th is connectedto the end of the link about an axis 18 parallel to the table top. Eachbar lit is thus swingable from the stowed position shown in FIG. 1 overand beyond the ends of the joint flanges 6 into the gap 7 between thejoint flanges 6 and aligned side flanges. The free end of each bar issecured to the side of the section 2 by a locking device 12, and in thisway the tabie top is held erected. The reference numeral 18a identifiesthe vertical pivot axis of link 11, at right angles to axis 18.

The locking device 12 is shown in more detail in FIG- URE 4. Itcomprises a channel member 13 slidable within the channel member 3 whichconstitutes the peripheral flange over the free end of the bar. Thechannel member 13 is held within the peripheral flange by a pair ofapertured lugs 14 upstanding from a plate 15, which as described laterforms a mounting for a table leg. The end of the channel member 13remote from the joint flange is bent at 16 so that it is engageable withthe lug 14 remote from the joint flange s to prevent its sliding clearof the lugs 14. The opposite end of the channel member 13 is bent toform a handle 17, by means of which it maybe slid over and away from thefree end of the bar It).

Each bar It is resilient, and in its unstressed condi tion is slightlycurved (FIG. 1) so that it must be straightened against its resilientbias before the locking device 12 can be slid over its free end. Whenthe locking device 12 is released by sliding the channel member 13 clearof the free end of the bar, the latter end springs inwardly out of theperipheral flange and clear of the device 12.

The table has four legs, each of which is pivotally connected to acorner of the table, so that when pivoting between the stowage positionand erected position, it moves parallel to the joint flange 6.

As mentioned above in connection with the locking device ii, there is afitting for each table leg in the form of a plate 15. The plates 15 areeach secured to an outer corner of the underside of each section, andhave in addition to the lugs 14 a third apertured lug 19, which issituated nearer the other corner of the section than the lugs 14. Thelugs 14 and 1% are formed by bending edges of the plate into a positionsubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the plate. The apertures inthe lugs 14 are aligned with each other and are perpendicular to thejoint flange 6, while the plane of the lug 19 is substantiallyperpendicular to the flange 6 so that the axis of its aperture isparallel to the flange 6. Each table leg comprises three resilient legs21, 22, and 23 having bentover ends 24; the bent-over ends 24 of therods 21 and 22 extend in opposite senses into and pivotally fit in thealigned apertures of the lugs 14; and the bent-over end 24 of the thirdrod 23 fits in the aperture of the third lug 1% so that it extendstowards the other two lugs 14, the lug 19 thus in eflect constituting anabutment for the rod 23. The ends of the three rods remote from the lugsare held together against the resilient bias by a common foot 25. Sincethe rods are stressed when the leg is erected, the resilient bias of therods holds the bent-over ends 24 in their respective apertures in thelugs.

In order to fold a leg from the erected position of FIGURE to the stowedor folded position of FIG. 1, the rod 23 is moved against its bias sothat its end 24- is moved out of the aperture in the lug 19, and is thenmoved towards the rods 21 and 22. The rods 21 and 22 are then pivotedabout the axis of the aligned apertures in the lugs li idownwardlytowards the underside of the section 1 or 2.

The third lug 19 of each plate 15 has an undercut part 25, in which therod 22 of its associated table leg fits when the leg is in its stowageposition. in order to fit the rod 22 in the part 26, it is forcedagainst its bias towards the joint flange 6. Thus the undercut part 26holds the leg in its stowage position.

When both the legs of a section are folded into their stowage positions,one leg lies above the other as shown in FIG. 1.

When the table is folded, each bar it) is held in its stowage positionby means of a rod 21 of a table leg. Each bar has a doubly bent part 27which, in the stowed position (FIG. 1), projects towards the rods of aleg, and in which there is a notch 23. The rod 21 of a table leg fits inthe notch 28, and so latches the bar 19 in the stowed position.

Each bar it), when in its latched position, thus divides the box-likespace into an inner and outer compartment respectively adjacent andremote from the joint flange 6. The legs, when in their stowed position,lit in the outer compartment, and the inner compartment is of a sizesuch that folded stools may be stowed in it, as illustrated at S in FIG.1.

One of the end peripheral flangesthat is the flanges parallel to thejoint flange 6is fitted with a spring clip 31 for holding the sectionstogether in the folded position.

A handle 32 for carrying the table when folded is attached to aperipheral flange.

The joint flanges 6 need not be formed in the manner described, namelyby bending over the edge part of the sections 1 and 2. For example themetal strips 9 of the hinge 8 may have outwardly extending flanges whichare secured to the underside of the sections it and 2; in this case themetal strips constitute the joint flanges.

The bars it) may be latched in their stowed position by means of knobsfitted to the bars instead of the notched doubly bent parts 27 of thebars. In this case a rod of a table leg fits between the knob and thebar to hold the bar in its stowed position.

The locking device which secures the free end of a bar to the othersection may be a spring clip.

What I claim is:

1. A rectangular foldable table comprising two sections forming a tablesupport surface; an L-shaped peripheral flange around three of the sidesof each section, one of the arms of said flange extendingperpendicularly away from said support surface and the second of thearms of said flange extending inwardly and parallel with said supportsurface; a joint flange at the fourth edge of each of said sectionsextending perpendicularly away from said support surface; the ends ofsaid joint flanges being spaced from said peripheral flanges by a gap; ahinge interconnecting said joint flanges so that said sections arefoldable between an erected position in which said sections are insubstantially the same plane and a folded position in which they aresubstantially parallel and form with said flanges a box-like space;table legs stowable in said box-like space; a short link pivotallyconnected to one of said sections about an axis perpendicular to saidsection; a bar pivotally connected to said link about an axis parallelto said one section, whereby said bar is swingable from a stowedposition in said section, in which it divides said box-like space intoan inner and outer compartment for respectively a folded stool and apair of folded table legs, over said joint flanges into said gap; and alocking device operative to secure the free end of said bar to andwithin said peripheral flange of said other section.

2. A foldable table comprising (a) two equal rectangular table topforming plates, each having longitudinal and transverse edge flanges onthe underside of said plates and a pair of foldable legs, adjacentlongitudinal flanges being hingedly interconnected,

(b) said transverse edge flanges having an L-shaped cross-section withthe tree leg of the flange extending inwards in spacedrelationship tothe underside of the respective plate and parallel therewith,

(c) said adjacent flanges being at their top edges interconnected by ahinge extending along substantially the whole length of said adjacentlongitudinal edge flanges,

(-d) said adjacent flanges terminating with their ends at a distancefrom the free legs of the adjacent transverse L-shaped edge flanges toform a gap,

(e) a slatlike locking bar at each aligned pair of said transverse edgeflanges, said bar having a length substantially equal to the length ofsaid plates and a height substantially equal to the inner height of saidtransverse L-shaped flanges,

(f) said bar being at one end connected to one of said transverse edgeflanges by means of a pivot connection including a pivot pinperpendicular to said free leg of said transverse flange and to saidplate, and a second pivot pin at right angles to said first pivot pin,said pivot connection being located at a distance from said adjacentedge flanges substantially equal to half the length of said bar wherebysaid bar may be moved into said gap and into engagernent of said pair ofaligned transverse L-shaped edge flanges when the table is spread tolock said plates in their table top forming position,

(g) a locking device for securing said bar in its locking position,

(11) and means for locking said bar in a stowed position where itextends substantially longitudinally on the underside of the respectiveplate to which it is pivotally connected to divide the box space definedby the edge flanges into two compartments,

(i) said legs being disposed in their folded position in the outer ofsaid compartments.

3. A foldable table as defined in claim 2 in which said transverse edgeflanges and the longitudinal edge flanges opposite to said adjacenthinged longitudinal flanges include a channel member having one legsecured to the respective plate and the other leg forming the free legof said L-shaped cross-section of said flange.

4. A foldable table as defined in claim 2, in which said hinge consistsof two side members extending along the whole length of said adjacentlongitudinal edge flanges and secured to said adjacent longitudinalflanges.

5. A folda'ble table as defined in claim 2, in which said pivotconnection between said transverse edge flange and the end of said barconsists of a link pivotally mounted on a pin extending between the freeleg of said transverse leg and said plate, said bar being connected tosaid link by means of a pivot pin extending in parallel relationship tosaid plate.

-6. A foldable table as defined in claim 2, in which said bars are ofresilient material and have an initial curved length so that they mustbe bent against their resilient bias to their locking position withinsaid transverse edge flanges.

5 7. A fold-able table as defined in claim 2, in which said lockingdevice is operative to secure the free end of said bar to and withinsaid transverse edge flange, said locking device comprising a channelmember mounted in said edge flange and slidable over said free end ofsaid bar to hold 5 the bar Within said L-shaped edge flange.

557,045 Baxter Mar. 24, 18%

6 Davis July 5, 1927 Malinowski Aug. 1, 1933 Graighead Nov. 22, 1938Kovalchuk Apr. 7, 1942 Boyajian Mar. 18, 1958

1. A RECTANGULAR FOLDABLE TABLE COMPRISING TWO SECTIONS FORMING A TABLESUPPORT SURFACE; AN L-SHAPED PERIPHERAL FLANGE AROUND THREE OF THE SIDESOF EACH SECTION, ONE OF THE ARMS OF SAID FLANGE EXTENDINGPERPENDICULARLY AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT SURFACE AND THE SECOND OF THEARMS OF SAID FLANGE EXTENDING INWARDLY AND PARALLEL WITH SAID SUPPORTSURFACE; A JOINT FLANGE AT THE FOURTH EDGE OF EACH OF SAID SECTIONSEXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY AWAY FROM SAID SUPPORT SURFACE; THE ENDS OFSAID JOINT FLANGES BEING SPACED FROM SAID PERIPHERAL FLANGES BY A GAP; AHINGE INTERCONNECTING SAID JOINT FLANGES SO THAT SAID SECTIONS AREFOLDABLE BETWEEN AN ERECTED POSITION IN WHICH SAID SECTIONS ARE INSUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PLANE AND A FOLDED POSITION IN WHICH THEY ARESUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL AND FORM WITH SAID FLANGES A BOX-LIKE SPACE;TABLE LEGS STOWABLE IN SAID BOX-LIKE SPACE; A SHORT LINK PIVOTALLYCONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID SECTIONS ABOUT AN AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO SAIDSECTION; A BAR PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID LINK ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLELTO SAID ONE SECTION, WHEREBY SAID BAR IS SWINGABLE FROM A STOWEDPOSITION IN SAID SECTION, IN WHICH IT DEVIDES SAID BOX-LIKE SPACE INTOAN INNER AND OUTER COMPARTMENT FOR RESPECTIVELY A FOLDED STOOL AND APAIR OF FOLDED TABLE LEGS, OVER SAID JOINT FLANGES INTO SAID GAP; AND ALOCKING DEVICE OPERATIVE TO SECURE THE FREE END OF SAID BAR TO ANDWITHIN SAID PERIPHERAL FLANGE OF SAID OTHER SECTION.